Overview
Diaries, poems, writings, etc., of Louise Kidder Sparrow, sculptor and poet.
Dates
- Creation: 1839-1964
Language of Materials
Materials in English.
Access Restrictions:
Access. Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright. Copyright in the papers created by Louise Kidder Sparrow is held by Louise Kidder Sparrow. Upon her death, copyright will be transferred to her son, Herbert George Sparrow, Jr., and then to her grandson, Herbert George Sparrow III. Copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns.
Copying. Papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures.
Extent
5.34 linear feet ((10+1/2 file boxes, 1 folio box) plus 1 folio folder, 1 folio+ folder, 1 oversize folder, 1 supersize item, 9 photograph folders, 3 folio photograph folders)This collection consists of the diaries, poetry, correspondence re: the writings and sculpture, photographs of the sculpture, sketches, and autobiographical volumes of Louise Kidder Sparrow, sculptress and poetess. Included is a small amount of family correspondence, family papers, genealogical information, and material re: Louise Kidder Sparrow's escape from France prior to German occupation during World War II.
BIOGRAPHY
Louise Kidder Sparrow was born Louise Winslow Kidder in Malden, Massachusetts, January 1, 1884. Her father Wellington Parker Kidder was the inventor of the noiseless typewriter. She studied drawing at the Eric Pape School of Art in Boston and attended Emerson College of Oratory. In 1909, she married Naval Lieutenant Herbert George Sparrow. They had one son, Herbert George Sparrow, Jr. Herbert George Sparrow died January 21, 1924 when the ship he was commanding, the USS Tacoma, wrecked near Vera Cruz, Mexico. Sparrow wrote a book, The Last Cruise, detailing her life with her husband and the circumstances of his death. Following her husband's death, Sparrow moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked as a professional sculptor. Her career ended due to injuries she suffered in a 1934 car crash. In 1940, she married French naval officer Paul E. H. Gripon; they divorced in 1949. Sparrow died of a heart attack in Washington, D.C., on July 9, 1979.
Physical Location
Collection stored off site: researchers must request access 36 hours before use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession numbers: 606, 612, 618, 625, 632, 694, 813, 858, 884
Gift of Mrs. Louise Kidder Sparrow, 6200 Oregon Avenue, Washington, D.C. Received between June and September 1963, February and October 1964, and February and May 1965.
SEPARATION RECORD
The following items have been removed from the collection and cataloged separately:
- Nico D. Horigoutchi, Tankas, Transl. by Louise Kidder Sparrow.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow, The Last Cruise
- Margaret Lambie, Verdun Experiences
- D. Kenelm Winslow, Mayflower Heritage
CONTAINER LIST
- Box 1: 1-19
- Box 2: 20-41
- Box 3: Vols. 3-15
- Box 4: 54-61
- Box 5: 16v-18v
- Box 6: 19v-21v
- Box 6a: 22v
- Box 7: 23v-29v
- Box 8: 30v-31v
- Box 9: 32v-32av
- Box 10: 32bv, 32cv, 33v, 34v
- Folio Box 11: 35vo
Sculpture and studio photographs.
N.B. Many of these photographs have been placed in folders 42-53f.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's first husband, Captain H. G. Sparrow, United States Navy, with their son (now Major General Sparrow).
- Louise Kidder Sparrow at door of her first studio.
- "Humanity" Louise Kidder Sparrow's first attempt at a statue.
- Tablet at Anapolis Naval Academy commemorating H. G. Sparrow's death at sea, 1924.
- Photographs of Louise Kidder Sparrow's bust of Dr. Austin Fox Riggs, one with Louise Kidder Sparrow.
- Photographs of Louise Kidder Sparrow's niece, Louise Prentiss Phillips posing for "The Blessed Damozel", and photographs of different stages of the sculpture.
- Photographs of "Heroic Head", bust of Senator Oscar Underwood, one with Louise Kidder Sparrow.
- Austin H. Clark, Curator of the Smithsonian Institute, standing by his bust.
- Photographs of life size statue of Colonel Archibald Gracie IV, hero of "The Titanic." Clothed and nude stages, some with Louise Kidder Sparrow.
- Photographstat copy of article on Louise Kidder Sparrow in Brazilian magazine.
- Photographs of Justice (and poet) Wendell Phillips, seated next to his bust.
- Photographs of posing and completed bas-relief of Brigadier General Samuel W. Miller.
- Photographs of "Tree of Life".
- Louise Kidder Sparrow at work on portrait bust of Senator Burton of Ohio.
- Photographs of "The Melody of Faith," and the model posing.
- Photographs of the clay models for the fountain "I Shall Give Thee Living Water": figures of Sphinx, Wisdom, Compassion, Melody of Faith, Stoic Philosopher, and Defiance of Sphinx. Includes photographs of the model posing, and other sculptures in the studio --Jane Thorpe, Commander Colby, Maxim Karolik, Admiral Walter L. Crosley.
- Photographs of the bust of General William C. Gorgas.
- Photographs of the bust of Senator Robert L. Owen.
- Photographs of the bust of Madame Lipa, wife of the Czechoslovakian Counsul.
- Card with bronze head of Margaret Lambie.
- Photograph of Louise Kidder Sparrow.
- Photographs of "Grief of Love".
- Daniel Leo Haynes, actor. Photographs of the man and his sculpted head by Louise Kidder Sparrow.
Family, etc.: photographs.
N.B. Many of these photographs have been placed in folders 42-53F.
- Postcard of Louise Kidder Sparrow's husband's ship, "The Tacoma", on which he went down in 1924. Captain Herbert George Sparrow.
- 2 photographs of Captain Sparrow in naval uniform off Spain, with Admiral Lackey and King Alfonso.
- Major General H.G. Sparrow, Louise Kidder Sparrow's son, Chief of MAAG in France, 1962-1963.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow and Mason Remey, ca. 1935, Virginia.
- Photographs of Mason Remey's chapel in his home, Washington D.C.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's brother-in-law, Dr. Peter Olitsky, 1923.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's niece, Ruth Olitsky, now Mrs. Nicholai Rubenstein, PhD, 1945.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's nephew, Roger W. Tubby, ca. 1950.
- Photo of (?) home in Rio de Janeiro, Christmas card, ca. 1920.
- General Mangrin, hero of Verdun, guest in Rio de Janeiro, 1922.
- Framed photograph of Japanese poet Nico-Daigaku Horigoutchi and family, Tokyo 1929.
- Mr. Casimir Weirxyushi (?) and dancer, Mlle. Stella Welsha, Paris 1929.
- Family home built in 1802, Bath, New Hampshire.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow about 6 years old, with two siblings and father.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow ca. age 17, with classmates at the Quincy Mansion School, 4 photographs.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow with mother and sister in steam car of father's invention.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's maternal grandmother, Mrs. Mary Axtell.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's aunt, Frances Axtell Dickert, 4 photographs, one as a little girl.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's father, Wellington Parker Kidder, ca. age 19.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's paternal grandmother, Anne Winslow Kidder.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's great uncle, Edward Winslow (Anne Winslow Kidder's brother) "This is the oldest photo of them all."
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's paternal grandfather in uniform of the Civil War.
- Louise Kidder Sparrow's paternal grandparents and family, including son Wellington Kidder (her father) on Martha's Vineyard (?) 1872. 2 copies.
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Sparrow, Louise Kidder. Papers of Louise Kidder Sparrow, 1839-1964: A Finding Aid
- Subtitle
- Sparrow, Louise Kidder. Papers of Louise Kidder Sparrow, 1839-1964: A Finding Aid
- Author
- Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
- Language of description
- eng
- EAD ID
- sch00919
Repository Details
Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository
The preeminent research library on the history of women in the United States, the Schlesinger Library documents women's lives from the past and present for the future. In addition to its traditional strengths in the history of feminisms, women’s health, and women’s activism, the Schlesinger collections document the intersectional workings of race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class in American history.